MBALE- Police in Mbale District have accidentally shot and killed a by-stander while responding to an alleged robbery of a vehicle.Ms Diana Nandawula, the Mt Elgon region police spokesperson, said police received reports that thugs had stolen a vehicle from Tororo Town and had parked it on Market Street opposite Umeme offices in Tororo.According to Ms Nandawula, the police officers from Mbale, acting on a tip-off from a witness who spotted the stolen vehicle heading to Mbale, laid an ambush at Nauyo on Mbale-Tororo road, four kilometers from Mbale Town.

She said when the suspects saw the police, they made a U-turn and attempted to speed off but the police made a chase for a while as they fired bullets at the vehicle.

“In that process, a stray bullet hit one by-stander identified as Sula Nalufumbi (40) who died an hour later at Mbale hospital. As police, we regret the incident and pledge to do all we can to meet all burial expenses,” Ms Nandawula said.

The deceased was a resident of Napuli village, Bumageni parish, Bunghokho Sub-county in Mbale District.

It’s supposed that the stolen vehicle, had four occupants who abandoned the vehicle and took advantage of the congested Nauyo slums to avoid arrest.

The vehicle was recovered and is being parked in Mbale.

“The tragedy here, of course, was that Mr Nalufumbi was shot by a police officer, and its a regrettable incident,” Ms Nandawula said. Adding that the body had been handed over to the family for burial.